Humidifier



June 30, 1936. L. w. HOY-r HUMIDIFIER Filed Feb. 7, 1935 0 .H 4I., zw'

ATTQRNEYS Patented June 30, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I 7 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in humidiersand'has'for an object to provide a humidifier which may be easily andquickly applied to an existing heating' system without the use ofspecial tools and Without the necessity of providing specialconnections. l

Another object is to provide a humidier particularly adapted forconnection with a steam radiator or any steam line, and which operatesentirely automatically with the heating cycles of the system .and whichis noiseless in its operation. i

A further object is to provide a humidifier having the characteristicsindicated and which functions to evaporate into the surroundingatmosphere water of condensation from the heating system to which it isapplied, and which prevents the release into the surrounding atmosphereof steam from the heating system.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent,v from a considerationof the following detailed description taken in connection withaccompanying -drawing whe-rein va satisfactory embodiment of theinvention is shown.v However, it will be understood that the inventionis not limited to the details disclosed but includes all such variationsand modications as fall within the spirit of the invention and the scopeof the appended claims.

In the drawing: Y

Fig. l is a view partly in side elevation and partly in section showingthe present humidifier connected with a radiator; and

Fig. 2 is a top plan View with parts broken away and showing thehumidier connected with a radiator.

Referring in detail to the drawing a portion of a steam radiator isgenerally indicated at 5 and the improved humidifier generallydesignated 6 is shown as connected with'the 'end section 1 of theradiator through a nipple or'bushing 3 adjacent the top of the radiator.This. ynipple isrin the usual core 'opening in the upper part of theradiator section. The humidifier -6 c'zorriprises a cast body 9 coredout'to'forma steam or condensing chamber I in` communication with thein` terior of the radiator through a connection or nipple I I cast withthe body!) and screw threaded into the bushing or nipple 8 as shown."vvA screen or strainer 4 is preferably provided in this con# nection toprevent passage of scale from the radiator into the humidifier. ChamberIIJ is bounded or defined by an inner wally I2 and an outer Wall I3 andthese walls are zig-'zag or fluted to increase their surface areas andalso to llower side of the iloat Il.

provide upright .air passages I4 at the outer surface of the Wall I3.

The inner wall I2 together with an inner hori- Zontal wall I5 forms acentral water or evaporating chamber I6 in which is located a oat I'I. Ablushing I8 is threaded through an opening in wall I5 and has its lowerend shaped to provide a seat for a valve I9 the stem 20 of which extendsthrough the bushing Vand into the evaporating chamber I6 wherein it isconnected with the float Il. The valve stem 2li has its upper end headedor enlarge-d at 2I and loosely received in a small compartment or socket22 formed at the With this construction it will be appreciated that thefloat has a universal connection with the valve stem and so ywhen thewater in chamber I6 boils the float may move about relative to the valvestem in all directions without unseating the valve. It will be seen thatthe valve stem passes' through the strap 23 which is connected at itsends with the float, and that the head 2l on the valve stem preventsseparation of the float and stem.

A cylinder 24 is formed with the bottom wall o-f the evaporating chamberconcentric with the valve seat in the bushing I8 and extends downwardlyto a point adjacent the bottom wall of the condensing chamber I0.Located within the cylinder 24 and secured to or integral with the lowerside of the valve I9 is a piston 25 peripherally grooved as at 26whereby a water seal is formed between the piston and cylinder. Thispiston is somewhat smaller than the cylinder to provide sufficientclearance for water to ow past the piston. Screw threadedy into thelower end of the cylinder 24 is a member 2l having an opening 28therethrough normally closed. by a ball or non-return valve 29.

To the lower end of the body 9 there is removably secured a cover orclosure 30 which is preferably concaved or somewhat hollow as shown.This closure may be secured in place as by screws 3l and is vremovableto permit of cleaning of the humidifier and when not in place givesaccess to the interior of the unit to facilitate assembly. Threadedthrough the member 3l) is the stem 3| of a needle valve 32, and it willbe apparent that by turning the handle 33 in one direction or the otherthe valve 32 will be advanced to seat in the opening 23 or will beretracted from such opening. -Normally the valve 32 is only used toclose the opening 28 when the humidifier is not to be used. Y

A cover 34 is secured over the upper end of the body 9 as by means orscrews 35 and the cover is held in spaced relation to the upper end ofthe body by means of. spacer lugs 36. In its center portion above theupper end of the evaporating chamber the cover 34 is provided with anopening 31, and the cover is of such diameter as to extend entirelyacross the upper end of the body 9 and to overlie the upper ends of theflutes or upright passageways Irl in the outer wall I3 of the body. Theouter edge portions 38 of the cover are preferably downturned about theupper edge of the body as shown.

The cover 34 collects the air passing upwardly through the flutes I4 anddirects such air inwardly over the top of the evaporating chamber t6 assuggested by the arrows in Fig. 1. The air is thus brought into contactwith the vapors arising from the chamber I and picksup and mixesl withthe moisture and passes outwardly through the opening 3l. As themoisture laden air passes outwardly` through the opening 31 it` engagesthe underside of a baffle plate 39 disposed above saidopening andsupported as by the spaced postsy 40. Thebaile plate deflects themoistened air outwardly so as to scatter it and the effect of using thisplate is that a rising stream or column of vapor is not visible abovethe humidifier. Further, the plate 39 serves to keep dust from set-`tling in the chamber I6.

In the operation of the humidier steam entering the chamber I engagesthe Walls I2 and I 3 and heating them is cooled and condensed and flowsdown the walls to the'lower part of the chamber IIl. 'I'he outer wallsI3 of the chamber ID are cooled by an upward ow of air over their outersurfaces and through the passages or flutes I4 thereby expediting thecondensing of the steam in the chamber II). Any air in the chamber whenthe steam rst enters it is vented into the radi-l ator through the lowerpartof the nipple I I., while.'

the steam enters the chamber through the upper part of the nipple, thelatter being made large`v f for this purpose.

The water collected in the chamber I0 is forced around the piston intothe cylinder 2 4. by the steam pressure in the upper portion of thechamber from the radiator. When theV waterin chamber I6 reaches apredetermined level about as shown in Fig. 1 the float, II is raisedsuciently to cause the valve tato seat and thus cut off cornmuncatonbetween the chambers II) and I6. As the water is evaporated from thechamber II the float I will drop to= bring about opening of the valve I9so that additional water may be forced from the chamber I 0 into thechamber I6.

Piston 25 insures closing of the valve I9; and prevents leakage ofwater-by the valve sincel the water as it is forced into the cylindercarries the piston upwardly to assist the float inclosing. the valve,the wat-er leaking by the pistonY when the valve is being held closed bythe float andequalizes the pressure at each side of the piston. Whenthis has occurred (if the water level in the chamber I6 is suihciently10W) the weightY of the float onL the stem 20 will cause unseating ofthe valve so that additional water may enter the evaporate ing chamber.From this it willbe understood that the valve I9 has movement upwardlyand downwardly until the water reaches the proper level in the chamberI6.

Non-return valve 29 serves to prevent water passing from the chamber Ia"back to the chamber III when the steam pressure drops and there is areturn valve is easily unseated by the steam pressure when Water is tobe forced into the cylinder 24 and from the cylinder into theevaporating chamber I E. When it is desired that the humidifier cease tofunction it is but necessary to operate the hand piece 33 until thevalve 32 is tightly seated, closing off the opening 28.

Attention is also directed tothe fact that the outlet through theconnection I I is located a substantial distance above the bottom of thecondensing chamber. With this arrangement the water from such chamberwill not overflow back linto the radiator until there is a substantialvolume of Water in the lower portion of the condensing chamber and thenwater may ow to the radiator through the lower portion of connectionv IIwhile steam moves through the upper portion of said connection into thechamber I. Further, the humidier does not discharge steam directly fromthe radiator and the steam portion of the. chamber IIIY being sealedthere is no noise of escaping steam.

Sincethe outer wall I3 of thecondensing cham'- ber is zig-zag or utedthis. wall has a Very large radiating area against, which air moves tobe heated andv so. the steam entering the chamber I Ilisrapidlycondensed. As the wall I2 is also zigzagor utedsuch Wall has agreat deal of surface area. to take up the heat from the steam inchamber I0 and to transmit such heat to the water in the evaporatingchamber I6. It will be appreciated that as the wall I2 takes heat fromthe steam in the chamber I0. condensing of. the steam is furtherfacilitated. Water is also drawn up on the inner surfaces of the wallsI2 where it is evaporated by the heat. With the cylinder 24 extendingAto the lower end of the chamber I9 itv will be apparent that water forthe evaporating chamber I6 is taken from the lower end of the condensingchamber and that water will not remain in the lower end portion of thelatter and become co1d.

Fromthe foregoing description it will be apparent that the presenthumidifier may be connected with'anysteam line where humidity isrequired and will operate in accordance with the heating cycles of asystem to which it is connected. That is, each time the steam pressurecomes on the Water in the evaporating chamber I6 will be heated and ifsuch chamber is not filled to the desired level additional water will beforced into it.` The device is entirely automatic in its operation andis; noiseless, and there is no visible cloudl of moisture dischargedabout it. It operates by condensing steamfrom the radiator or othersteam line and then evaporating the Water of condensation. It isnotnecessary that airfrom the heating system be vented into a roomthrough the humidifier but is discharged back to the. system andair-from the room is preventedzfrom-.entering the heating system throughthe-humidifier.

Having` thus set forththe nature of my invention.I what I claim is:

1. In. ahumidier, a body comprising a condensing chamber adapted forconnectionv with a steam` line, an evaporating chamber within andheated. from the condensing` Chamber and` open at its upper side, aconnection between the chambers whereby water of condensation from thecondensingchambcr is fedto the evaporating the outer wall of saidcondensing chamber being fiuted to provide upright air passages over theupper ends of which said cover extends to direct inwardly over the upperopen side of the evaporating chamber the air passing upwardly throughsaid utes.

2. In a humidifier, a body including inner and outer walls forming acondensing chamber between them and of which the inner wall defines anevaporating chamber heated from the condensing chamber and open at itsupper side, means for connecting said condensing chamber with a steamline, a connection between the chambers whereby water of condensationfrom the condensing chamber is fed to the evaporating chamber, meanscontrolling such feeding of water of condensation, and each of saidinner and outer walls fluted with the flutes of said outer wallextending vertically whereby the outer wall has a large surface areaexposed to the .atmosphere to facilitate the condensing of steam in thecondensing chamber and for the heating of air adjacent the humidier andwhereby the inner wall has a larger surface area for the transmission oiheat from the steam of the condensing chamber to the water in theevaporating chamber.

3. In a humidifier, a condensing chamber, means for connecting thechamber with a steam line and adapted to collect water of condensationin its lower portion, an evaporating chamber within said condensingchamber and open at its upper side and having an opening in a wall, acylinder communicating said opening with the lower portion of thecondensing Chamber, a valve controlling the passage of water thrOughsaid opening, a float within the evaporating chamber and connected withsaid valve to cause seating thereof on the water in the evaporatingchamber reaching a predetermined high level, and a piston in saidcylinder and connected with said valve and operable by the pressure ofwater entering the cylinder from the condensing chamber to assist theoat in moving the valve to seated position.

Ll. In a humidifier, a condensing chamber for connection with a steamline and adapted to collect water of condensation in its lower portion,an evaporating chamber within said condensing chamber and having anopening in its bottom wall, a cylinder communicating said opening withthe lower portion of the condensing chamber, a valve controlling thepassage of water through said opening from the condensing to theevaporating chamber, a float within the evaporating chamber andconnected with said valve to cause seating thereof on the water in theevaporating chamber reaching a predetermined high level,

and a non-return valve in said cylinder and preventing movement of waterfrom the cylinder into the condensing chamber.

5. In a humidifier, a condensing chamber for connection with a steamline and adapted to collect water of condensation in its lower portion,an evaporating chamber within said condensing chamber and having anopening through one wall, a cylinder communicating said opening with thelower portion of the condensing chamber, a valve controlling the passageof water through said opening, .a float within the evaporating chamberand connected with said valve to cause seating thereof on the water inthe evaporating chamber reaching a predetermined high level, a piston insaid cylinder and connected with said valve and operable by the pressureof water entering the cylinder from the condensing chamber to assist thefloat in moving the valve to seated position, and non-return valve inthe lower portion of said cylinder and preventing movement of water fromthe cylinder into the condensing chamber.

6. In a humidifier, a body comprising a condensing chamber adapted forconnection with a steam line, an evaporating chamber Within and heatedfrom the condensing chamber and open at its upper side, a connectionbetween the chambers whereby water of condensation from the condensingchamber is fed to the evaporating chamber, means controlling suchfeeding of the water, the outer wall of said condensing chamber flutedto provide upright air passages, a cover over and spaced from the upperends of the condensing and evaporating chambers and having an openingover the open upper side of the evaporating chamber, said coverextending over the upper ends of said air passages to collect and directinwardly over the upper open Side of the evaporating chamber the airpassing upwardly through said passages, and a baffle plate supported inspaced relation to said cover and disposed over the opening therein.

'7. In a humidier, a condensing chamber, means for connecting it with asteam. line, an evaporating chamber heated from said condensing chamber,a connection between said chambers whereby water from the condensingchamber will be fed to the evaporating chamber, means controlling suchfeeding of water, means in said connection and having an openingtherethrough, a non-return valve adapted to close said opening andprevent the movement of water from the evaporating to the condensingchamber, and a manually operable valve also operable to close saidopening to render the humidifier inoperative.

LEROY W. HOYT.

